More than 200 smog-related deaths in Merseyside in 2010

Merseyside air pollution highlighted by the Green Party. Photo by Colin Lane

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There were more than 200 smog-related deaths in Merseyside in 2010, new figures have revealed.

Smog-related deaths accounted for 3,427 fatalities in the North West in that year, with 239 of those in Merseyside - 5% of the total death recorded that year.

The Public Health England (PHE) study, released last week, estimated more than 28,000 UK deaths at the start of the decade were due to man-made air pollution.

Those findings support recent evidence that suggests Liverpool has blown past EU regulations of safe levels of air pollution. The report said air quality has improved "considerably" in line with technological advances and stricter environmental laws, but pollution still has a "significant impact" on life expectancy.

Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett, who appeared in Merseyside to protest against carbon emissions, said the deaths were evidence of “an invisible public health crisis”.

She said: “These shocking new statistics, which show that hundreds of people in Liverpool, and thousands of people across the UK, are dying because of air pollution, make it clear that urgent action is needed to clean up our air.

“Young children, those who have asthma and elderly people are all at greater risk of health problems caused by air pollution.”

“We can’t allow this invisible public health crisis to continue.

“Now that these statistics have revealed the high numbers of deaths caused by air pollution, it is time for government ministers to take this issue seriously and take urgent action to protect people’s health.”

The party’s prospective MEP, Peter Cranie, added: “With one in twenty deaths in Liverpool caused by air pollution it is abundantly clear that bold action from the city council is needed.

“Scrapping the city’s bus lanes and discouraging people from taking the bus flies in the face of common sense.

“Instead we need more public transport options, plus a significant increase in the numbers of people cycling and walking.”